T.D.C

As soon as I heard the theme for the latest Urbis magazine, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy. The Black + White Issue goes on sale today, and having had the pleasure of receiving one when it was hot off the press last week, I'm happy to report that it is a must-read. For fellow lovers of monochrome design, this is one you must add to your collection.

Styling and photography by Michelle Halford for TDC

This issue also marks the first for new editor Federico Monsalve, a writer and journalist whose work has appeared in a range of local and international media including The New Zealand Herald, Monocle (UK), Urbis, Flying Nun, ARTnews (NY) and Interior. He says that "A thoughtful matching of black with white can be elegant, visually striking, and above all, timeless". I couldn't agree more.

Here's a peek at what's inside.

Photography by Simon Devitt

The cover home features a bold and expressive Waiheke house full of greyscale goodness. Inspired by a simple tent, the house designed and owned by architect Chris Tate is clearly not your typical Kiwi bach. Essentially an oversized pup tent surrounded by ferns and palms, the tranquil interior features a compact balance of curves, angles, planes and volumes. Black satin surfaces in the kitchen provide a striking contrast to the incredible centrepiece, a ribbon-like staircase and simple white Knoll table and Casalino chairs.

Styling by Juliette Wanty and photography by Toaki Okano

Beautiful black and white styling with a focus on shape and texture, this shoot features exquisite furniture, art and objects from a range of local and international designers including Douglas and Bec, Derek Henderson, Kartell, HAY and Tom Dixon.

Photography by Justin Alexander

This Sydney beachside apartment has been beautifully renovated by Decus Interiors who took their queues from the oceanside setting. The natural palette has been layered with fresh coastal accents and infused with texture and personality. The home features some incredible design pieces such as the Borge Mogensen’s black leather Spanish Chair, Moroso’s dark grey Redondo Chair by Patricia Urquiola and Eero Saarinen’s white marble dining table.

Styling and photography by Michelle Halford for TDC

The Black + White issue is packed with many more inspiring spaces, design, people and places, with a beautiful feature on Helsinki being a definite highlight for me. Pick up a copy today. You won't be disappointed!

Cover shot styled by Tami Christiansen and photographed by Nathalie Krag

Images courtesy of Urbis

London-based designer, academic and creative director Ilse Crawford is known for her influential and holistic work across interiors, architecture and product design. Her simple mission is to put human needs and desires at the centre of all that she does, and as founder of Studioilse, together with her multi-disciplinary team, she brings her philosophy to life. This means creating environments where humans feel comfortable; public spaces that make people feel at home and homes that are habitable and make sense for the people who live in them. It also means designing furniture and products that support and enhance human behaviour and actions in everyday life. As founder of the department of Man and Wellbeing at the Design Academy Eindhoven, her mission extends to nurturing a new generation of students to always question why and how their work improves the reality of life.

From seeing her work and reading about her groundbreaking philosophies for design and living on the web, I've long been in admiration. So much so, I've just purchased her book, A Frame For Life, which has been on my wishlist for a while. Featuring Studioilse’s work to date, from private residences to hotels, restaurants, and retail projects, the book promises to be one to cherish, and I can't wait for it to arrive.

The Apartment in Copenhagen by Studioilse

Herzog & de Meuron’s VitraHau by Studioilse

Most recently, I have been swooning over Ilse's new range for IKEA, the Sinnerlig Collection. Consisting of 30 items including furniture, lighting and tableware, the pieces explore natural materials and simple, useful forms that fit into everyday life. Working with beautifully tactile materials like cork, ceramic, glass, seagrass and bamboo, they were chosen because they feel as good as they look.

With that in mind, I want to reach out and touch everything! The pieces are not only stunning, they have been designed to fit with IKEA's own mission of being affordable. The Sinnerlig collection will be available in IKEA stores around the world from August 2015.

Imagery from Planete Deco via IKEA

Yet to reach the coldest months here in NZ, we can take inspiration from the Autumn-Winter 2015 collections that are starting to emerge from Scandinavia. The latest Broste Copenhagen catalogue has just been released and is overflowing with swoon-worthy new homewares, furniture, lighting and textiles. Rich colour palettes and textural goodness give the new collection a gorgeous feeling of depth and contrast. It is always such a pleasure seeing how the creative team work their magic, and this collection does not disappoint. Styled beautifully, the heritage features of this space perfectly compliment the new designs.

I'm so pleased to see more of the muted tones coming through along with beautiful textiles, elegant furniture, earthy ceramics, striking lighting and coloured glass. The continuation of some of my favourite materials such as linen, marble and brass is also a welcome sight.

Beautiful styling by Marie Graunboel, art direction by graphic designer Rasmus Broendsted and photography by the incredibly talented Line Thit Klein

How stunning is that marble fireplace and clawfoot bath? The perfect winter style inspo. It's exciting to see that Broste has now made its way to NZ thanks to May Time, with select items available from two of my favourite stores Indie Home Collective and Tessuti. I look forward to seeing these new pieces arriving in due course.

See the full collection here.

Images via Broste Copenhagen

Founded by Danish-born New Yorkers Camilla Vest and Ricky Nordson, Goods We Love imports a small, exclusive collection of classic and contemporary Danish furniture and accessories. Camilla is a top international model whose career brought her to the US when she was 19 years old, while Ricky, a multi-award winning creative director spent years working abroad before settling in Tribeca where he now lives with his wife and son. The two ran into one another after picking up their kids from school on day, and the conversation soon turned to design. Discovering that they had both been thinking about the idea of introducing fantastic Danish brands to the US, they decided to do just that, and Goods We Love was born!

All from Denmark, the beautifully curated pieces are showcased here in Camilla's gorgeous Scandinavian-style Tribeca loft which she shares with her husband, Peder, and their young son and daughter. These include many sought after furniture and homeware brands such as Aiayu, Lyngby Porcelain and Skovshoved Møbelfabrik & Co, who produce the stunning Ole Gjerløv-Knudsen Day Bed and Chair shown below.

Styling by Pernille Vest and photography by Thomas Loof

Images from Remodelista, via Goods We Love

I also came across an interview with Camilla and Ricky over on one of their retailers blogs, Steven Alan. I really enjoyed finding out more about their back story, individual styles and favourite places to visit in New York and Copenhagen. A great read, I highly recommend checking it out. Here they are hanging out at Camilla's Tribeca loft, which doubles as the Goods We Love showroom.

Photo by Connie Wang via Steven Alan

Rounding off the week with some inspiring finds, I've just discovered the Norwegian bedding company Høie, and as you can see from their new Autumn collection below, both the bedding and styling is rather fetching. The new designs include the addition of beautiful blankets and throws. Perfect vibes for a cosy weekend in don't you think?

Styling by Kirsten Visdal and photography by Margaret M de Lange via Eget Rom

I have a bit of a fascination with wood panelled walls right now. Scandinavian in style (the paler the wood the better) they provide a nice alternative to all-white walls. Here are a few great examples.

Herringbone and White Gloss wall panels from Australian company Glosswood

Siparila wall panelling made from pine, with a white surface finish, via Weekday Carnival

I'm thrilled to introduce the brand new Spindle Light today, the latest addition to the 'Handmade' series by NZ designer Timothy John, designed exclusively for Paper Plane, the Mount Maunganui based design studio and store owned by Timothy and his wife Krista. Based on the form of the classic spindle back chair, it is made from solid ash hardwood, suspended by subtle steel extensions. The unique design allows the overall form to splay elegantly, emitting a soft light. To create the ultimate sense of continuity and demonstrating the incredible attention to detail Timothy has become known for, the light features a coordinating wood ceiling rose and lamp casing. A natural extension of the Timothy John x Paper Plane collection that was debuted in 2014, the stunning Spindle light joins the fold of hand crafted goodness. Every piece of wood is meticulously hand turned, honouring a rare art- like quality in production furniture.

Images courtesy of Paper Plane

Finally, it wouldn't be a Friday Finds without a beautiful home tour, and StudioKoti, the third Sato apartment styled by Helsinki-based interior stylist Susanna Vento is my pick today. Each one of these homes has provided fresh ideas and inspo, yet they all feature Susanna's distinctive Scandinavian style, one that is bright and welcoming with soft palettes and warm wood.

Styling by Susanna Vento, assisted by Pinja Forsman

I love the HAY Field cutting board and the way it mimics the staircase balustrades. The Menu Warren wall lamp is also a nice feature in the simple, relaxed bedroom. See more over on Susanna's blog Varpunen.

Unable to resist sharing a couple of sneak peeks on Instagram over the last couple of weeks, I am thrilled to officially introduce you to the beautiful new line of cushions from New Zealand design brand Nodi. Coinciding with the relaunch of their website and branding, the new products sit alongside the incredible range of ethically produced hand made rugs that Nodi have become known for.

I recently met with inspiring Nodi founder Olivia Smith, who along with her brother Ryan forms the brother and sister duo behind the brand. The creative force, Olivia studied textile design at the Institute of European Design in Milan and travelled extensively throughout the world before settling in India for six months in 2013, where Nodi was born. She says that in addition to featuring a mix of all natural fibres with a focus on quality and texture, the cushions combine different fabrics, including stone washed linens, felted wools and textured cottons, as a way of providing versatility. Having a combination of fabrics make up one cushion introduces an element of depth and adds an interesting, rich texture to the space in which it sits. Having had the pleasure of styling the beautiful new cushions at home, I couldn't agree more. It's also my excuse for including so many photos. Showcasing how well the cushions transition from the living room to the bedroom, the combinations were endless!

Styling and photography by Michelle Halford for TDC

The Duck Egg Linen and Felted Wool Cushion and Charcoal and Dove Grey Linen Cushion work beautifully in the bedroom, adding depth and texture to the layers of linen bedding. The Natural/Lilac Gingham Cushion adds a fun graphic element and in fact this combo ended up being my favourite.

In addition to my own Blush and Natural Cultiver Bedlinen, Lambswool Grey Knit Throw from Paper Plane and Silke Bonde Leaf Me art Print from the The Poster Club I chose some beautiful complimentary products from Tessuti to complete the look:
Vida Dove Grey Stonewashed Linen Duvet Cover
Joska & Sons Poise Desk Lamp
Amai Ceramic Cups
Bloomingville Pentagon Tray
Tales of The Jazz Age by F.Scott Fitzgerald
Grey Water Print by Penney + Bennett

When I first featured Nodi last year, I fell in love with their Organic Lines Collection, so I suggested to Olivia that I style the new cushions together with one of their Organic Lines Rugs. Her recommendation of the new Undyed Jute + White Rug was perfect.

In addition to the cushions from the bedroom styling, which fit beautifully in our living areas, I had fun mixing in some different designs. The Natural Striped Linen and Natural Blue Drop Cushions add subtle texture, while the Ink/Natural ChecksandPrinted Elephant inject further interest and warmth.

Styling and photography by Michelle Halford for TDC

Nodi ships worldwide, with free shipping within NZ. All cushions are sold with high quality duck feather inserts. To see the full collection, take a look here.

A new discovery, JAGODYstudio is a multidisciplinary Design Studio based in Poland. Working across a variety of fields, including architecture and interior design, these beautifully styled images were created for UASHMAMA, producers of washable paper bags designed and made in Italy. Responsible for both the interior and set design as well as the styling, JAGODYstudio have done an exceptional job at showcasing not only the versatility of the storage bags but also their aesthetic appeal. The styling echoes the cool, relaxed feel of the bags and highlights their fresh white and muted tones. All have been captured with incredible clarity by photographer Kuba Szopka.

I especially love the bright and airy bedroom which features a calming white and grey palette and warm wood elements.

Design and Styling by JAGODYstudio and photography by Kuba Szopka

The food styling has a gorgeous rustic feel. I'm definitely feeling inspired... and a little hungry!

Images via Kuba Szopka/Behance

It's not the first time I have admired the work of Swedish firm Oscar Properties, but this project is one of my favourites to date. Founded in 2014, the company's vision to create modern homes that are unique has certainly been realised with Lyceum, a building that was one part of the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. A incredible conversion it will see the creation of about 70 apartments, all with beautiful high ceilings, large windows and bespoke kitchens. Elegant and timeless with a true Scandinavian aesthetic, if this show apartment is anything to go by, the future owners will be enjoying a very stylish and restful space.

Images from Ems Designblogg and Nordic Design via Oscar Properties

Loft Szczecin is a interior design firm based in Szczecin, Poland (north of Berlin). In addition to designing both homes and commercial spaces, founder Jacek Kolasiński creates custom-made furniture. Previously a restaurateur, Jacek specialises in the conceptual designs of catering facilities from the interior, furniture design and construction through to the design of individual menus, kitchen equipment, even facilitating training and collaboration with renowned chefs. I think it's safe to say that you would be in very good hands if he was in charge of designing your dream kitchen. He is also a collector of Scandi furniture, and clearly draws from this style when designing his own pieces. Beautifully crafted by Marcin Wyszecki, and showcased in the homes he has designed, I have picked out some favourites to share with you today.

The angled oak bed and bedside tableare both Kolasiński's designs. I love the headboard, which is perfectly paired with grey bed linens by Polish company Yelen. Equally stunning, here is another version of the bed and bedside table below.

Clean and understated, the ash wood dining table features a handy pull out drawer.

The interior and furniture design of these bathrooms is insanely good! I love the pared back approach of bathroom tables with a countertop basin and this under table is perfection.

As for this next bathroom, the combination of warm oak and soft grey is incredible. Kolasiński's designs include the incredible chaise, thesink cabinet (which has been paired with a wash basin by Philippe Starck design for Duravit), and also the Lustro hanging wood-framed mirror. Both visually appealing and practical, the walls have been treated with lime wash paint. A freestanding bath and perfectly understated Afteroom Chair complete the look. You can see the rest of this inspiring Berlin apartment here.

Photography by Karolina Bak via Loft Szczecin

While I am most definitely a coffee lover through and through, I'm not opposed to the odd cup of tea. This especially applies in winter, when I've had my coffee quota for the day and am in need of a soothing, hot drink. There are so many delicious herbal, caffeine-free varieties around, and recently I've acquired some beautiful samples from both T2 and Storm & India. With that said, I think it's about time I invested in a lovely teapot so that I can truly enjoy the ritual, and feel good about serving visitors who stop by for a cuppa. The Glass Teapot by Menu has always been high on my wishlist, and though still a favourite, lately I have been drawn to other styles, such as the classic Japanese-inspired cast iron varieties. They sit beautifully in a Scandinavian-style setting, as these images demonstrate.

Styling by Sabine Burkunk and photography by Hans Mossel via VT Wonen

Via Fantastic Frank

Via Vipp

Tetsubin (the name for Japanese cast iron pots) are considered the best vessels for tea brewing, as the cast iron distributes the heat evenly to extract the full flavour and health benefits of the tea. Furthermore, their heat-retaining properties keep tea at a proper serving temperature for up to an hour. In Japan, the graceful, elegant Tetsubin vessels are treasured family heirlooms, handed down through the generations.

Via Fantastic Frank

Styling by Emma Wallmén and Photography by Emily Laye via Fantastic Frank

Via Illums Bolighus

Thanks to talented artist, interior stylist and designer Leila Budjen for this next discovery. I really love the shape and colour of her stoneware clay teapot, designed by ceramic artist Jonas Lindholm.

Styling by Leila Budjen, Ligne Studio

Taking inspiration from these beautiful teapots and gorgeous styling, I've rounded up some online finds.

1. Old Dutch Saga Cast Iron Teapot

2. Storm & India Bespoke Organic Tea and Utensils and Broste Ersum Mugs, from Indie Home Collective

3. Fidelity Blue Cast Iron Teapot

4. House Doctor Chopping Board

5. Bloomingville Caroline Teapot in Grey

6. Teapot by Jonas Lindholm

7. Stelton Theo Teapot

8. Zakkia Concrete Round Tray

FYI - in search of a Cast Iron Teapot closer to home, I also found this beautiful range in NZ and this one in Australia.

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of styling some beautiful products from online store Resident GP. Coinciding with both their first birthday and re-launched website and branding, it also marked the start of a new and exciting project for Melbourne-based owners Gabi Sidhu and Pawel Gaca. Deciding to branch out and create their very own product range, I am thrilled to introduce their stunning new marble collection with you today, Linear by Resident GP.

Luxurious and chic with a bit of an edge, Gabi says it was important that their creations reflected the current Resident GP brand. "Marble is very on-trend yet will always remain a classic as it brings a certain elegance into every home. For us, it felt like the perfect material to design our very first collection."

With Gabi having studied architecture and Pawel being an engineer, geometry and functionality were must-haves when designing the sohisticated yet versatile collection of trays, platters, cups and planters. For an element of luxe and charm, they added linear touches of copper and gold to both the opulent Italian carrara and black marguia marble. Designed to bring the pieces to life, this unique twist really sets them apart and delivers that edge the couple set out to achieve at the very start.

Both the Resident GP logo and the lines have been engraved into the marble, with the copper and gold detailing individually painted by hand.

Styling by Nat Turnbull and photography by Elise Grace

I'm sure you'll agree this is an amazing debut collection. Such exquisitely beautiful design and incredible attention to detail, the full range is now available to purchase online at Resident GP, for delivery in mid-July.

Images courtesy of Resident GP

I'm always on the lookout for ways of displaying books, especially as my collection grows. Even though I love the idea of stacking them up on the coffee table, I prefer to keep them out of reach of the kids, at least while they are little.

The Mayor Sofa, Fly Lounge Table and Copenhagen Pendant by Space Copenhagen for and Tradition via Illums Bolighus

Bookshelves are a great solution, especially higher shelves that are out of reach from little hands. If the books are really old I remove the dust cover to reveal a simpler and often cleaner cover. Another idea is to place your books back to front as shown below on both the bookshelf and windowsill. The pages of the books create a calm and neutral palette alongside the warm wood and that incredible herringbone floor.

Styling by Sarah Widman for Alvhem Mäkleri

A simple concept, but one that works beautifully is this low-level shelf. Running the length of the living room inside the Paris apartment of architect duo Charlotte de Tonnac and Hugo Sauzay of Festen Architecture, see more of their incredible home here.

Festen Architecture Via TSF

These next examples show how to mix up the placing of your books. Why not display those with beautiful covers as works of art? Or simply stack them this way and that, alongside your favourite objects.

Design and Styling by Bespoke Interior Design

Styling by Lotta Agaton

Positioning of the bookshelf is also important, with living areas and bedrooms being a popular choice. Slightly removed from the living area, this little sun-lit area provides the perfect reading nook.

Styling by Sarah Widman for Alvhem Mäkleri

Cosy in winter, with the option of throwing open the doors in summer, I can imagine taking a book outside to read in the sun. Bliss!

I really look forward to Fridays, as I'm sure most people do. I have a strict no-work-in-the-evening policy, and I love the anticipation of the weekend ahead. This is the first Friday in several weeks that I haven't had meetings, so being at home, I took the opportunity to take a couple more photos to round off today's art print themed post, adding to those I've already shared on Instagram. You'll find a link to all these gorgeous new art prints at the end of the post.

If you ever feel the urge to update an area of your home without doing anything too drastic, I highly recommend changing a poster (or two). One of these days I will rearrange the configuration of my living room picture wall, but it's so easy just to change out the posters in the same or similar sizes as the mood takes me. The best part is, the variety of posters available to purchase now is growing, with more and more international brands becoming accessible here and in Australia. I'm lucky to work with some amazing artists and suppliers of art prints, many who have gifted me product, but the prints are all affordable, as is the shipping. And if like me you have built up a collection of frames, it's even easier, especially with the use of removable 3M adhesive strips which I swear by.

Styling and photography by Michelle Halford for TDC

Hold On by Reuben Ireland - Norsu Interiors
Flowers Poster (Pink) by About Graphics - Paper Plane
Monstera Delicsiosa Print by (By) Garmi - Paper Plane
Untitled #10 Poster by Vee Speers - Norsu Interiors
Oui Oui Print by Badlands - Badlands Print Shop

Happy Friday!

Today's styling comes courtesy of Swedish homeware store Rum21 and their new champaign for Decotiques Le Grand Air Sofa. Available in three different colours, each have been beautifully styled by Frida Ramstedt of Trendenser, and photographed by Bodil Bergqvist.

Personally I love the muted tones above, which feature the sofa in Dark Grey, alongside earthy green and black accents. The Nordic Blue sofa below paired with green hues is a bit bolder. The addition of light wood and grey furniture softens the overall look and makes the room really warm and inviting.

Styling by Frida Ramstedt and photography by Bodil Bergqvist

The Exclusive White sofa styling above is perfect inspo for those who love bright white interiors, neutrals and soft pastels. The graphic cushions add a playful touch.

Images via Rum21

I'm very happy to report that the latest issue of BNZ GoodHome is now live! Packed with loads of ideas, inspiration, DIY's and more, here's a taste of what you'll find in this edition.

Images: Kreativitum, Dinesen, Paint, Talopihkala Blog, Lightyears, Nodi Rugs, Menu, Ollin Stone, Aura Autumn 2015

My Step by Step Styling Guide is great for those of you who have completed a reno and are ready to embark on the exiting task of styling your new space. To demonstrate the process, I share a moodboard I created for the Sleepyhead bedroom styling post I worked on earlier this year. An important tool, it is one that will help you determine your own personal aesthetic and visualise how the room will look in terms of colour palette and overall feel. The other steps include asking yourself some key questions, determining the room elements, working to a budget, and working on the ever-important finishing touches.

Styling and photography by Michelle Halford for TDC

Another post that I'm sure many of you can will find helpful is How to Make Small Spaces Feel Bigger, which I've broken down into parts including 'Furniture Selection', 'Declutter and Store' and 'Space Saving Tricks'.

Images via Stadshem

For this issue's room series I focus on the Bedroom, showing you ways to update your space for the cooler months. You'll also find a post on Lighting Your Home. Lighting pays a huge part in creating a home that is not only well lit, but also functional and a pleasure to live in. Check out my tools for creating your own lighting plan room by room.

Styling and photography by Nina Holst for Stylizimo

Image via Alvhem Makleri

Lastly, the exciting giveaway for this issue is from one of our favourite NZ designers Penney + Bennett. To find out more, visit BNZ Goodhome where you can enter the draw and read not only my posts, but all of the other great content on offer from the rest of the team. Enjoy!

I'm heading to Brisbane tomorrow for a few nights, and thought it would be a great opportunity to share a couple of my new travel essentials. One is a Samsonite suitcase which I am VERY excited to be travelling with for the first time. The award-winning Cosmolite FL is made in Europe from a revolutionary Curv technology. Incredibly lightweight yet super strong, these features make it a truly unrivalled piece of luggage and I can't wait to test it out!

I'm looking forward to the laid back vibe of Brisbane and warmer weather, although looking at the forecast it's a bit chilly at night so I'm packing some extra layers. I'm travelling with my older sister who also works from home. We often talk about how we both find it hard to leave work behind unless we go on holiday, so we're hoping to recharge the batteries with some quality down time. We'll check out the city on foot, visit a few shops, cafes and restaurants and no doubt benefit from a few days being completely removed from the home/work environment. The opportunity originally came up because our other sister will be over there with my niece who is attending a tennis academy. We decided to join her for the weekend as it's a rarity for the three of us to hang out, without husbands or kids. Travelling without the family in tow also makes packing a lot easier, especially with my incredible new Cosmolite. Roomy and robust, I still can't believe how incredibly light it is!

My other must-pack item is my beautiful new handbag by Luisa Garcia Studio. A Spanish product designer living in Sydney, Luisa creates limited edition leather work, handmade in her studio from scratch. Working with the natural beauty of leather - including it's imperfections, which she doesn't hide - she says that the strong presence of texture is the most characteristic component of her style.

The unique designs are both timeless and functional with incredible attention to detail. Having been searching for the perfect compact, minimalist leather crossbody bag, my prayers have been answered with the Scar Crossbody. Beautifully crafted from soft cowskin, this bag is both stylish and unobtrusive, allowing me to be hands free when I'm out and about, which I love! To find out more about the range and custom orders, take a look here.

Styling and photography by Michelle Halford for TDC

I will be posting tomorrow morning before I head away, so make sure you stop by!

This post was brought to you in collaboration with Samsonite and Luisa Garcia Studio. For more information on sponsored posts and collaborations, please take a look at my About Page.

AYTM is a new interiors brand from Denmark, founded by Kathrine and Per Gran Hartvigsen. With ten years experience in design and production of home interior, the couple have approached the concept of Nordic design in a sophisticated and elegant manner, creating a timeless collection that speaks of understated luxury. Simple yet eye-catching, the design centres around the contrasts of materials and surfaces, and exquisite detail.

Behind the collection is a team of passionate and talented designers headed by Anne Stensgaard. They have worked diligently to create an expressive and complete collection, primarily designed for the dining room, living room and kitchen. The range will be expanded to the other rooms of the home in the coming collections and twice a year AYTM will be supplemented with new designs.

These close-up shots allow us to see the incredible quality, attention to detail and textural contrasts of the products. An alluring mix of wood, glass and metal, I also love the colour palette which is beautifully balanced and soft.

AYTM will be presented at the Scandinavian design exhibition, North Modern, in Bella Center Copenhagen from 13th - 15th August 2015 and at the Maison & Objet fair in Paris from 4th - 8th September 2015. The showroom is located in Aabyhoej, Aarhus and can be visited by appointment. To stay in the loop, follow on Facebook and Instagram.

Images courtesy of AYTM

In case you missed yesterday's post, I'm going on holiday for a few days so will be back on the blog Monday. See you then!

After flying in late last night from Brisbane I'm in catch up mode and juggling the first day of school holidays. I had an amazing few days away but I was really looking forward to seeing my boys and didn't mind one bit when they jumped in our bed early this morning for cuddles! So it's a quick post today, but hopefully this home will wow you as much as it has me.

The work of DKO, one of Australia's leading design houses specialising in residential architecture, it was the exterior of this home in Carlton, Melbourne that stopped me in my tracks. The Heritage facade, and addition of a carefully placed metal 'floating' box has resulted in a seamless yet striking contrast between old and new. The new insertion was cleverly created through the design of a 'shadow line' between the first and second level, in order for the heritage building to appear like it hasn't been touched from its beautiful history. What's more, the perforated metal facade pattern has a representational pattern of the church St.Jude located close by. DKO have shown respect and sensitivity to the area's culture and in doing so are giving a bit of history back to the site. The perforated metal screens open to allow solar access and cross ventilation to the apartments, and can also be closed to create privacy.

Reading about DKO's methodology made me think of renowned designer Ilse Crawford, whose book A Frame for Life I have been recently studying. Much like her belief in putting the human at the centre of design, DKO puts the user front and centre. Rather than creating iconic architecture which can often lose sight of the people who bring a project to life, DKO pride themselves on creating spaces that are exciting to experience. Jesse Linardi, DKO design director says 'We are passionate about the relationship between people and their environment and consistently push the boundaries of urban design.’ Principal Koos De Keijzer agrees – ‘All our buildings are considered with the inhabitant as well as the environment in mind. We analyse how people live, work and play, and this informs our architecture. This is an integral part of what we do as designers.’

Imagery by Gabriel Saunders

DKO have offices in Victoria, NSW and Auckland, New Zealand. To see more of their work take a look here.

Images via DKO

A while ago I was interviewed by the new Interior Design company Room by Room and it went live on their blog just before I went away last week. The brainchild of super-talented interior design duo Lizzi Hines and Jess White, this unique interactive service was created to help people bring their vision and design ideas to life. Make sure you check them out, and you can have a read of my little Q&A while you're there!

I hadn't intended to do a post-holiday write up but somehow this has naturally come together since arriving home. Looking through the souvenirs and iPhone pics, I thought I'd share a few things that I loved about our stay in Brisbane.

Styling and photography by Michelle Halford for TDC

We stayed at the lovely Four Points Sheraton which was in walking distance from the beautiful Riverside precinct Eagle Street Pier and the CBD. When it came to shopping, Myer and David Jones were on the list. The sales didn't disappoint and I picked up some great buys for myself and the boys. I'm always drawn to the Aesop Skincare counter, but I was also happy to find the Aesop store on nearby Adelaide street. The beautiful interior, attentive service and incredible products made it impossible to leave empty handed!

A visit to Paddington had my sister and I making comparison's with Auckland's lively inner city areas like Ponsonby and Grey Lynn. Such a pretty suburb, the cafes and boutiques provided a fun day out. I was excited to stumble across AP Design House, a recent online-discovery whose interior design work I featured in this post. Their store has a great mix of homewares, furniture and lighting from both local and international designers including Danish brand Menu. One of my favourite finds was Wingnut & Co, an Australian ceramic brand that AP Design House carry, founded by Asuka Mew & Anna Miller-Yeaman. I fell in love with the organic, clay products and took home two Mochi hand thrown clay Beer Cups, which I plan on using for coffee. I also picked up a great book that had been on my wishlist. Another standout design store is Showroom, also located on Latrobe Terrace. They have a lovely collection of homewares and a very pretty outlook - see the interior vintage shelving and outdoor veranda in the pics below.

iPhone photos by me

We ran out of time to visit James St in Fortitude Valley, but it comes highly recommended so make sure you've added it to your to-do list if you're visiting Brisbane. It's on mine for the next time! Here's a summary, including some of my favourite shops, cafes and restaurants.

Stay

Four Points Sheraton

Travel

On foot and Uber

Shop

AP Design House - 15 Latrobe Tce, Paddington

Showroom - 135 Latrobe Tce, Paddington (until 12th July, then moving to Brisbane CBD on 27th July)

Aesop Skincare - Shop GL35, Queens Plaza, 226 Queen St, entrance via Adelaide St

Dine

Saké - Eagle St Pier. Some of the best Japanese cuisine that I have had, and the Friday night DJ made for a fun night.

Pony - Eagle St Pier. I night to remember dining with my two sisters, I recommend sitting outside to take in the view of the beautiful Brisbane River and Story bridge.

Grill'd - I love a great burger! Delicious and good for you, the low carb bun option was excellent.

Ruby - 233 Given Tce, Paddington. Great breakfast and excellent coffee - I had to go back for a second!

Paleo Cafe - 257 Given Tce, Paddington. Clean eating at its best.

Note: there are no affiliates associated with this post. All opinions are my own.

Having seen glimpses of the gorgeous new Mark Tuckey + Cotton On collection in Australia, I'm happy to report that it has now hit Cotton On stores here in NZ. Unfortunately I couldn't make it to the media launch this morning, but I have some lovely imagery to share with you. An exciting collaboration that sees Cotton On partnering with one of Australia’s iconic design brands, the result is a fantastic creation of accessories for the home that reflects the store's honest, relaxed style.

From design enthusiasts wanting to recreate the lifestyle and home of those they admire, to first-time renters who want to have fun styling their space with accessible products, the collection combines optimistic and effortless design with pared-back simplicity and features quality natural materials such as cotton, linen and timber.

Mark and Louella Tuckey say they were drawn to partner with Cotton On because of the brand’s like-minded relaxed, quintessentially Australian style and ability to create accessible products that people want, now. "We’re excited about the opportunity to design a fun, relaxed and accessible collection with Cotton On that will allow us to introduce the MARK TUCKEY brand to customers and homes throughout New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and South Africa. The concept of Mark Tuckey + Cotton On is in line with that of our main business – to create products that we love and that we want to live with in our own home. It’s about that same passion. The result is an authentic and honest collection based on a natural palette with pops of colour and a focus on good, clean design at affordable prices”.

The Mark Tuckey + Cotton On collection includes:

EAT – All things for the kitchen, including wooden bowls, chopping blocks, platters and tea towels

DRINK – All vessels to drink from, including mugs, glasses and dog bowls

RELAX – All things that help you create a space to relax in, including blankets and throws, cushions, ottomans and beanbags, scented candles, wall hooks and wooden clocks

STORE – Everything you need to help get your home in order, including storage jars, laundry baskets, tote bags, overnight bags and storage bags

BATHE – All things you want in the bathroom, including bathmats and bathrobes

SLEEP –All things for the bedroom, including duvet sets, sheets and pillowcases, blankets and cushions

The collection is available online at www.cottonon.com now and in Cotton On Albany, Queen Street and Napier stores.

Images courtesy of Cotton On

Urbis | The Black + White Issue

Ilse Crawford

Broste Copenhagen | AW 2015

Goods We Love

Friday Finds

Nodi | Textured Cushions Launch

JAGODY Studio + Kuba Szopka

Homes to Inspire | Stockholm School Conversion

Loft Szczecin | Interior and Furniture Design

Tea Time

Linear by Resident GP

Books | For the Coffee Table + Beyond

At Home | Art Love

Rum21 | One Sofa Three Ways

BNZ GoodHome | New Issue

Holiday Packing | Samsonite + Luisa Garcia Studio

AYTM

DKO | Carlton Home

Holiday | in Review

Mark Tuckey + Cotton On